Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

If using temperature and salt, a 2 week time period should be long enough for the ich to go through its life cycle and be killed by the salt concentration. I'm not so sure about the fungus. I think you will find that having the salt in that first 2 weeks will clear up any sores that the fish have received from cature and transport and this will go a long way to getting rid of/preventing the fungus. Normally healthy fish will not be affected by fungus. If you water conditions are optimum, fungus should not be an ongoing issue.

Just be aware that ich has been known to survive fairly high concentrations of salt (say up to 5ppt) but should normally be killed off at 2-3ppt if going from 0ppt. Depending on what sort of fish you get, 5ppt is a concentration that you could use for hostpitalisation. I think silvers can survive up to 10ppt (but don't take my word for it as this may be only when there is a gradual increase). Steve may know more.

Thanks VB.

I hooked in the tap between the two tanks tonight, after draining them back into the rainwater tank.

Waiting now for the glue to cure (I'm paranoid about that stinky green pipe glue, but what else can you do) so am going to leave it until after the weekend, then hopefully have a few days off next week to get this thing happening

I have just fed my pond fish. Noticed that at least one of the large perch has quite bad fungus. Hope that it may clear up by itself now that the big bed is in place - but may have to dose up with salt again . THe 2 ponds are together again now - so lots of salt needed.

So is it right to assume that less than perfect conditions bring their immune systems down to the point where they are a lot more susceptible to disease?

Very correct, stu.

VB have you check water parameters in the pond? The difference in my fish when i maintained 0 ammonia after increasing the biofilter (indoor tank) was incredible.

Stu, i touched on this in another thread, its like humans, if you are stressed, over worked, under paid not eating well then you're much more likely to get sick. Fish are no different.

VB is also correct with the ICH. Difference in salt concentration is the key. Going from 0PPT to 2PPM might effect a cure, but going from 2PPT to 3PPT might not. Its the CHANGE insalinity that does the damage to the ICH. Both VB and myself have documents that pretty much cover ICH completely. Ask one of us if you would like them

Steve

cool thanks

At the moment I'm stressed, overworked, underpaid and not eating well, just waiting for the ich to start LOL

Give me a week, I'm gonna be aqua all day!

If you start rubbing yourself on rocks then take a bath in 5PPT salt solution @ 29.5C. Stay in there for 2 weeks, you'll be right

Bath's running with epson salts in it now LOL

Steve - posted the pond readings to my system thread yesterday. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate somewhere between 80 and 160. Nitrate is now down to about 20, mainly due to the water supplementation I did yesterday when I added the 2 ponds together again. Now the big bed is hooked up and planted out (albeit with seedlings at this stage, I expect that nitrate will no longer be an issue. Will give a dose of salt one last time I think. Pond is probably still about 2ppt I would reckon, so will add another 2ppt and hope it doesn't stop my seedlings from taking off. The plants in my little test bed don't seem to have been effected by the salt.

I did read that VB, just couldn't remember if it was the pond or tank

i think <5PPT won't bother most plants.

epsom salts is a good way to add both magnesium and sulpher to your system

Stu, you need aquaponic therapy.....

I advise 4-8 hours a day playing with aquaa stuff

thats like advising me to spend 4-8 hours lighting fires

LOL

had a play with the dwc chanels today. They drain through the ipe in the lower of the two really well, no overflowing etc. Was only feeding from the rain taink as I haven't ran water through my pipes yet. Want the glue to settle for another day or so.

Murray's pump shot the sump water into the fish tank at about 80 litres per minute (approximate) Good aeration there I reckon. I have no idea how fast the grow beds are going to drain. Am dying to find out though, and I can regulate them through a tap if I need to